JP2016184333A - Job management system, image forming apparatus, and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently restart printing operation which has been interrupted during printing print data generated in a mobile device.SOLUTION: A job management system includes an image forming apparatus 2 (multifunction machine) and a mobile device 1 (tablet) communicating with each other. The mobile device generates print data formed by dividing original data into one or more pieces of page data, generates offset information indicating a position corresponding to the start position of each page data on the original data, with a data length from the start position of the original data, for each page data, and transmits the page data and the offset information in the order of pages. The image forming apparatus determines whether all page data has been received or not, on the basis of the result of receiving the page data including the last page information, registers a print job for printing print data in a job list, as an incomplete job, when a determination is made that all page data has not been received, and registers identification information of the incomplete job and offset information received last at least in association with each other, in the job list.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a job management system, an image forming apparatus, and a control program, and more particularly to a technique for resuming execution of a print job.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a technique is known in which print data such as a web page or a photo is transmitted from a portable device such as a smartphone or a tablet to an image forming apparatus such as a printer for printing.

  For example, in Patent Document 1 below, print data is transmitted from a peripheral device such as a digital camera to a printer without grasping page breaks, and then the printer converts the print data into page-unit image data and prints the page unit. Techniques to do this are disclosed.

  In this technique, while the peripheral device is transmitting print data with the power of the rechargeable battery, the power of the rechargeable battery may be rapidly consumed due to fluctuations in application software load or communication load. As a result, transmission of print data is suddenly interrupted, and printing may be interrupted. For this reason, after charging the rechargeable battery, the print data is retransmitted to the printer, and the printer re-converts the print data into page-unit image data and re-executes printing.

  On the other hand, unlike the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the data to be printed is divided into pages based on unique conditions in the portable device so that printing can be performed with different page layouts according to the settings of each portable device. There is also known a technique for generating page data and transmitting the page data to an image forming apparatus for printing.

  As such a technique, for example, Patent Document 2 below discloses a technique in which print target data is converted into print data to be printed by a printer in a POS terminal, and then the print data is transmitted to the printer for printing.

  Also in this technique, in preparation for the interruption of the transmission of print data due to the occurrence of an instantaneous interruption, the storage location of the print target data and the status flag indicating whether or not the transmission of the print data has been completed in the POS terminal Are registered in the print management file. The POS terminal refers to the print management file when the power is turned on, and if the status flag registered in the print management file indicates that the print data transmission is not completed, it is registered in the file. Acquire print target data from the storage location, recreate the print data, and resend it to the printer. Accordingly, it is disclosed that the interrupted printing is re-executed.

International Publication WO2004 / 012075 JP 2011-49811 A

  However, in the case of a configuration in which print data to be printed by the image forming apparatus is generated in the portable device as in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, the page data after the page that the image forming apparatus was printing at the time of interruption can be retransmitted. For example, the interrupted printing can be resumed without re-execution of the interrupted printing.

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, even if the image forming apparatus receives a part of page data before the interruption of printing, the page data for all pages is reproduced from the same data as the data to be printed. And then retransmitting the interrupted printing. For this reason, there is a problem in that time for the image forming apparatus to re-create already-printed page data and further transmit it is wasted, and interrupted printing cannot be resumed efficiently.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem. When printing of print data generated in a portable device is interrupted, the job management system and image formation that can efficiently resume the printing are performed. An object is to provide an apparatus and a control program.

  A job management system according to the present invention is a job management system that performs communication between an image forming apparatus and a portable device, wherein the portable device divides original data into one or more page data, and the one or more pages. Offset information indicating a position on the original data corresponding to the start position of each page data by a data length with reference to the start position of the original data; For each page data, and a transmission unit for transmitting the page data and the offset information corresponding to the page data in page order, and the page data of the last page constituting the print data is And last page information indicating the last page, and the image forming apparatus includes a page data including the last page information. A determination unit that determines whether or not all the page data constituting the print data has been received based on the reception result of the data, and the determination unit determines that all the page data has not been received, A job registration unit that registers a print job for printing the print data as an incomplete job in a job list, and the job registration unit includes identification information of the incomplete job and at least the offset information received last. The job list is registered in association with the job list.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that communicates with a portable device, and the portable device divides original data into one or more page data, and uses the one or more page data. Generated print data, and for each page data, offset information indicating the position on the original data corresponding to the head position of each page data by the data length with respect to the head position of the original data. Generating and transmitting the page data and the offset information corresponding to the page data in the order of pages, and the page data of the last page constituting the print data includes the last page information indicating that it is the last page Whether or not all the page data constituting the print data has been received based on the reception result of the page data including the last page information A determination unit for determining, and a job registration unit for registering a print job for printing the print data as an incomplete job in a job list when the determination unit determines that all the page data has not been received, The job registration unit associates the identification information of the incomplete job with at least the last received offset information and registers it in the job list.

  A control program according to the present invention is a control program for causing a computer of a portable device that communicates with an image forming apparatus to function. The computer of the portable device divides original data into one or more page data, and A data generation unit that generates print data composed of the above page data, and a data length when the position on the original data corresponding to the head position of each page data is based on the head position of the original data The offset information shown for each page data is made to function as an offset generation unit, and the page data and the transmission unit that transmits the offset information corresponding to the page data in order of pages. The page data includes final page information indicating the final page.

  According to these configurations, it is possible to grasp that a print job registered as an incomplete job in the job list is a print job that has not received all page data.

  Also, at least the last received offset information is registered in the job list. For this reason, for example, if the job list is acquired from the image forming apparatus in the portable device, the data generation unit refers to the uncompleted job registered in the job list and the last received offset information corresponding thereto. The original data used to generate the print data to be printed by the incomplete job can be divided from a position away from the head position by the data length indicated by the offset information.

  As a result, only the page data after the last page data received by the image forming apparatus can be efficiently generated without taking the trouble of generating all the page data constituting the print data by dividing the original data from the head position. be able to. As a result, only the page data after the page data last received by the image forming apparatus can be transmitted, and the interrupted print job can be restarted quickly.

  The portable device further includes a transmission request unit that transmits a transmission instruction for the job list, and the image forming apparatus returns the job list to the portable device when the transmission instruction is received from the portable device. A list transmission unit may be further included.

  According to this configuration, the job list can be acquired from the image forming apparatus by transmitting a job list transmission instruction in the portable device. As a result, the data generation unit refers to the uncompleted job registered in the acquired job list and the offset information received last corresponding thereto, and as described above, the image forming apparatus receives the last The page data after the page data can be generated efficiently.

  In addition, when the data generation unit receives the job list, the data generation unit refers to the last received offset information corresponding to the identification information of the incomplete job registered in the job list, and Among the original data used for generating the print data to be printed, data after a position that is a data length away from the head position indicated by the offset information may be divided.

  According to this configuration, the data generation unit refers to the incomplete job registered in the received job list and the offset information received last corresponding thereto, and the page data after the last received by the image forming apparatus The page data can be efficiently generated without the effort of dividing the original data from the head position.

  Alternatively, the job management system includes one or more portable devices, the data generation unit divides the original data based on a predetermined shaping condition, and the transmission unit acquires the original data. The necessary registration information and condition information indicating the shaping condition are further transmitted, and the job registration unit further corresponds the received acquisition information and the condition information to the incomplete job identification information and the offset information. When the job list is received, the data generation unit, when the job list is received, the last received offset information corresponding to the identification information of the incomplete job registered in the job list, With reference to the acquisition information and the condition information, the same data as the original data is acquired based on the acquisition information, and the head position of the acquired data The data after the position distant data length indicated by Luo the offset information may be divided based on the shaping condition indicated by the condition information.

  According to this configuration, each portable device can acquire the same job list stored in the image forming apparatus by transmitting a job list transmission instruction. Then, the data generation unit of each portable device refers to the incomplete job registered in the acquired job list and the acquisition information corresponding thereto, and used to generate the print data to be printed by the incomplete job. The same data as the original data can be acquired. As a result, even if the incomplete job prints print data transmitted from another portable device, the same data as the original data used to generate the print data can be acquired.

  In addition, the data generation unit of each portable device can refer to offset information and condition information corresponding to an incomplete job registered in the acquired job list. As a result, even if an incomplete job prints print data transmitted from another portable device, the same data as the original data is created based on the same shaping condition used for generating the print data. The data after the position that is the data length indicated by the offset information from the head position is divided, and the page data after the page data received last by the image forming apparatus can be efficiently generated.

  The image forming apparatus further includes a job execution unit that executes the print job. When the determination unit determines that all the page data has not been received, the job execution unit Page data may be printed.

  According to this configuration, even when all the page data constituting the print data cannot be received, the already received page data can be printed. Thereby, when page data that could not be received thereafter is received, only the page data that could not be received is printed, so that all the page data can be printed efficiently.

  In addition, the determination unit is able to receive all the page data when the page data including the last page information is not received between the last reception of the page data and the elapse of a predetermined time. The job execution unit may print the received page data when receiving the page data after the determination unit determines that not all the page data has been received.

  According to this configuration, when the page data including the last page information is not received during the predetermined time after the last page data is received, the already received page data is printed. As a result, a part of the print job for printing the print data including the already received page data is executed. If more page data is received after a part of the print job is executed, the received page data is printed. Thus, according to this configuration, it is possible to manage a print job that cannot receive all page data as a resumable print job without discarding it as a job in which an error has occurred.

  According to the present invention, when printing of print data generated in a portable device is interrupted, the printing can be efficiently restarted.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a job management system. It is a figure which shows an example of the relationship between HTML data and print data. It is a figure which shows an example of the condition information memorize | stored in the memory | storage part. It is a figure which shows an example of a job list. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of transmitting print data to a multifunction peripheral in a tablet. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation for executing a print job for printing print data received in the multifunction peripheral. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation for resuming execution of a print job registered in the job list as an incomplete job.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a job management system, an image forming apparatus, and a control program according to the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a tablet is described as an example of the portable device, but the portable device according to the present invention is not limited to this. The mobile device according to the present invention may be, for example, a smartphone or a notebook computer.

  In this embodiment, a multifunction peripheral is described as an example of the image forming apparatus, but the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to this. The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be, for example, a facsimile machine, a copier, or a printer.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a job management system 9 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the job management system 9 includes two tablets 1a and 1b (portable devices) and a multifunction device 2 (image forming device).

  Since the two tablets 1a and 1b have the same configuration, hereinafter, the two tablets 1a and 1b are collectively referred to as a tablet 1. The tablet 1 and the MFP 2 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a network 90 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

  The tablet 1 includes a power supply unit 19, a storage unit 18, a communication unit 17, an operation display unit 16, and a control unit 10.

  The power supply unit 19 is a rechargeable secondary battery and supplies power used for the operation of each unit in the tablet 1. The storage unit 18 is a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory. The storage unit 18 stores various data necessary for the operation of the tablet 1 in advance. The communication unit 17 is a communication interface circuit used when communicating with the multifunction device 2 via the network 90. The operation display unit 16 is a display unit that can be touch-operated, such as a liquid crystal display having a touch panel function.

  The control unit 10 includes a CPU (not illustrated) that executes predetermined arithmetic processing, a nonvolatile memory (not illustrated) such as an EEPROM that stores a predetermined control program, and a RAM (not illustrated) that temporarily stores data. And a microcomputer provided with these peripheral circuits and the like. The control unit 10 controls the operation of each unit in the tablet 1 by executing a control program stored in the nonvolatile memory by the CPU.

  The control unit 10 is related to the operation of causing the multifunction device 2 to print the print data, and particularly functions as the display control unit 11, the data generation unit 12, the offset generation unit 13, the transmission unit 14, and the transmission request unit 15.

  The display control unit 11 displays a browser capable of touch operation on the operation display unit 16. The browser has a well-known configuration, and a URL input operation can be performed by a soft key touch operation. The browser acquires HTML format data identified by the input URL, and displays an image represented by the acquired HTML data in a predetermined display area in the browser. In addition, the browser can perform an input operation of a print instruction for causing the multifunction peripheral 2 to print an image being displayed in the display area by touching a print soft key provided in the browser.

  When the input operation of the print instruction is performed in the browser, the data generation unit 12 converts the HTML format data (original data) representing the screen displayed on the browser into a PDL (Page It is divided into one or more page data in the description language format. As a result, the data generation unit 12 generates print data including the one or more page data.

  Hereinafter, data in the HTML format is described as HTML data, and data in the PDL format is described as PDL data. The shaping condition defines a mode in which drawing elements such as a character string and an image represented by each HTML tag in HTML data are drawn on a display area of a browser or paper. A specific example of the shaping condition will be described later.

  The offset generation unit 13 displays offset information indicating the position on the original data corresponding to the start position of each page data generated by the data generation unit 12 by the data length when the start position of the original data is used as a reference. Generate every time. The original data is data representing an image to be printed before print data composed of PDL data is generated. In the above example, the original data is HTML data representing a screen displayed on the browser.

  Hereinafter, the data generation unit 12 and the offset generation unit 13 will be described using specific examples. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between HTML data HD and print data PRD. In the following, a case will be described in which an instruction to print an image represented by the HTML data HD shown in FIG. 2 is input on the browser. Note that the HTML tags in the HTML data HD shown in FIG. 2 are different from normal HTML tags used in the HTML data for convenience of explanation.

  The data generation unit 12 acquires the character string “competition result” indicated by the HTML tag <title>, which is a drawing element that is printed first, with reference to the head position HP1 of the HTML data HD. The data generation unit 12 draws the acquired character string “competition result” for one page of drawing area PA1 (hereinafter referred to as virtual drawing) that is virtually provided based on the shaping conditions associated with the HTML tag <title>. It is determined whether or not drawing is possible so as to fit in the area.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the condition information C stored in the storage unit 18. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the storage unit 18 stores condition information C that is information in which each HTML tag is associated with a shaping condition. The data generation unit 12 refers to the condition information C stored in the storage unit 18 and performs the above determination based on the shaping condition indicated by the condition information C.

  In the condition information C shown in FIG. 3, for example, each character of the character string indicated by the HTML tag <title> and the HTML tag <title> is drawn with the character size “C1px” and drawn with the character thickness “bold”. Is associated with a shaping condition indicating that the The HTML tag <text> is associated with a shaping condition indicating that each character of the character string indicated by the HTML tag <text> is drawn with the character size “C2px” and drawn with the character thickness “normal”. Yes. The HTML tag <image> is associated with a shaping condition indicating that the image indicated by the HTML tag <image> is drawn at the drawing position “center in the width direction”. In the HTML tag <table>, each character of the character string to be drawn in the table indicated by the HTML tag <table> is drawn with the character size “C3px”, and the table is drawn at the drawing position “center in the width direction”. The shaping conditions shown are associated.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, each character of the character string “competition result” indicated by the HTML tag <title> is changed to the character size “C1px” indicated by the formatting condition associated with the HTML tag <title> and the character It is possible to draw so as to fit in the virtual drawing area PA1 with the thickness “bold”. In this case, the data generation unit 12 determines that drawing is possible in the determination.

  If it is determined in the above determination that drawing is possible, the data generation unit 12 draws the drawing element determined to be drawable in the virtual drawing area, and performs the same determination on the drawing element to be printed next.

  Specifically, the data generation unit 12 displays an image identified by “http://www.aaa.com/img/A.jpg” indicated by an HTML tag <image> that is a drawing element to be printed next. To get. The data generation unit 12 draws the acquired image indicated by the shaping condition associated with the HTML tag <image> following the character string “competition result” indicated by the HTML tag <title> drawn in the virtual drawing area PA1. When drawing is performed at the position “center in the width direction”, it is determined whether or not the drawing is within the virtual drawing area PA1. Also in this case, as shown in FIG. 2, since the image can be drawn so as to be within the virtual drawing area PA1, the data generation unit 12 determines that drawing is possible in the determination.

  In this way, the data generation unit 12 fits each drawing element to be printed indicated by each HTML tag within a virtual drawing area for one page based on the shaping conditions associated with each HTML tag. The process of determining whether or not drawing is possible is repeated.

  The data generation unit 12 determines that drawing is not possible in the determination. For example, in the example of FIG. 2, the data generation unit 12 converts the table indicated by the HTML tag <table> into an HTML tag <text> drawn earlier based on the formatting conditions associated with the HTML tag <table>. It is determined that drawing is not possible so as to fit within the virtual drawing area PA1 following the character string indicated by.

  When the data generation unit 12 determines that the drawing element indicated by the HTML tag cannot be drawn so as to fit in the virtual drawing area, the data generation unit 12 generates PDL data for printing the image drawn in the virtual drawing area. The data generation unit 12 sets the generated PDL data as one page data constituting the print data.

  In the example of FIG. 2, the data generation unit 12 prints an image including the drawing elements indicated by the HTML tag <title>, the HTML tag <image>, and the HTML tag <text> drawn in the virtual drawing area PA1. Generate PDL data. The data generation unit 12 sets the generated PDL data as one page data PD1 constituting the print data PRD.

  If the data generation unit 12 determines that drawing is not possible in the determination, the data generation unit 12 determines whether it is possible to draw the drawing element determined to be non-renderable in a new virtual drawing area in the same manner as described above. And processing for generating page data according to the result of the determination processing.

  As a result, in the example of FIG. 2, the data generation unit 12 prints an image including drawing elements indicated by the HTML tag <title>, HTML tag <image>, and HTML tag <text> drawn in the virtual drawing area PA1. For this purpose, page data PD1 is generated. The data generation unit 12 generates page data PD2 for printing an image including drawing elements indicated by the HTML tag <table> and the HTML tag <text> drawn in the new virtual drawing area PA2. In addition, the data generation unit 12 generates page data PD3 for printing an image including a drawing element indicated by two HTML tags <text> drawn in the new virtual drawing area PA3.

  In this way, the data generation unit 12 divides the HTML data HD into three page data PD1 to PD3, and generates print data PRD composed of the three page data PD1 to PD3.

  The data generation unit 12 includes the last page information EP indicating the last page in the page data PD3 of the last page constituting the print data PRD.

  The offset generation unit 13 determines the position on the HTML data HD corresponding to the start position of each page data PD1 to PD3 generated by the data generation unit 12 according to the data length when the start position HP1 of the HTML data HD is used as a reference. The offset information shown is generated.

  Specifically, the page data PD1 is the page data of the first page among the three page data PD1 to PD3. That is, the top position of the page data PD1 corresponds to the top position HP1 on the HTML data HD. Therefore, the offset generation unit 13 uses the offset information indicated by the data length “0” when the position HP1 on the HTML data HD corresponding to the head position of the page data PD1 is based on the head position HP1 of the HTML data HD. OF1 is generated.

  The page data PD2 corresponds to the virtual drawing area PA2. That is, the head position of the page data PD2 corresponds to the position HP2 of the HTML tag <table> indicating the drawing element drawn first in the virtual drawing area PA2 in the HTML data HD. Therefore, the offset generation unit 13 generates offset information OF2 indicated by the data length D2 when the position HP2 is based on the head position HP1 of the HTML data HD.

  Similarly, the offset generation unit 13 uses the offset information indicated by the data length D3 when the position HP3 of the HTML tag <text> in the HTML data HD corresponding to the head position of the page data PD3 is based on the head position HP1. OF3 is generated.

  Returning to FIG. The transmission unit 14 controls the communication unit 17 to generate page data PD1 to PD3 generated by the data generation unit 12, and offset information OF1 to OF3 corresponding to the page data PD1 to PD3 generated by the offset generation unit 13. Are transmitted to the MFP 2 in page order.

  That is, the transmission unit 14 transmits the page data PD1 and the offset information OF1 corresponding to the page data PD1, then transmits the page data PD2 and the offset information OF2 corresponding to the page data PD2, and then the page data PD3 and the page data The offset information OF3 corresponding to the data PD3 is transmitted.

  In addition, the transmission unit 14 further transmits the acquisition information necessary for acquiring the HTML data HD representing the screen to be printed and the condition information C stored in the storage unit 18 to the multifunction device 2. Specifically, the acquisition information indicates a URL necessary for acquiring the HTML data HD.

  The transmission request unit 15 controls the communication unit 17 to transmit a transmission instruction for a job list JL, which will be described later, to the multifunction device 2 at a predetermined time. The predetermined time includes, for example, when the tablet 1 is activated and when a soft key for inputting a job list transmission instruction displayed on the operation display unit 16 is touched.

  Next, the configuration of the multifunction machine 2 will be described. The multifunction machine 2 includes a power supply unit 30, a storage unit 29, a communication unit 28, an operation display unit 27, an image reading unit 26, an image forming unit 25, and a control unit 20.

  The power supply unit 30 includes an AC / DC converter and the like, converts electric power supplied from an external power source into electric power of a predetermined level used for the operation of each unit in the multifunction device 2, and supplies the power to each unit in the multifunction device 2. The storage unit 29 is a storage device such as an HDD or an SSD.

  The storage unit 29 stores various data necessary for the operation of the multifunction device 2 in advance. The storage unit 29 is provided with an area for storing the job list JL. The job list JL is configured to be able to register (store) various information and data related to a print job in association with each other.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the job list JL. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the job list JL includes an identification information column, a status information column, an acquisition information column, a condition information column, a page data column, and an offset information column.

  In the identification information column, print job identification information is registered. For example, FIG. 4 shows an example in which identification information J1 of a print job for printing the print data PRD (FIG. 2) received from the tablet 1 is registered in the identification information column.

  Status information indicating the execution status of the print job is registered in the status information column. For example, FIG. 4 shows that status information “incomplete” indicating that reception of some page data constituting print data PRD (FIG. 2) to be printed by a print job is not completed is registered in the status information column. An example is shown.

  The acquisition information received from the tablet 1 is registered in the acquisition information column. For example, FIG. 4 shows an example in which the acquired information “http://www.aaa.com/html/a.html” received from the tablet 1 is registered in the acquired information column.

  The condition information received from the tablet 1 is registered in the condition information column. For example, FIG. 4 shows an example in which the condition information C (FIG. 3) received from the tablet 1 is registered in the condition information column.

  Each page data received from the tablet 1 is registered in the page data column in the order of reception. For example, FIG. 4 shows an example in which when page data PD2 is received after receiving page data PD1 from the tablet 1, the two page data PD1 and PD2 are registered in the page data column in the order of reception.

  In the offset information column, each offset information received from the tablet 1 is registered in the order of reception. For example, FIG. 4 shows an example in which when the offset information OF2 is received after receiving the offset information OF1 from the tablet 1, the two offset information OF1 and OF2 are registered in the offset information column in the order of reception.

  The communication unit 28 is a communication interface circuit used when communicating with the tablet 1 via the network 90. The operation display unit 27 includes a display unit capable of touch operation such as a liquid crystal display having a touch panel function, and operation keys for allowing the user to perform various operations.

  The image reading unit 26 includes an unillustrated optical system unit having an unillustrated CCD (Charge Coupled Device) line sensor, an exposure lamp, and the like. The image reading unit 26 executes scan processing under the control of the control unit 20. The scanning process is a process for generating image data representing an image of an original by causing the optical system unit to read the image of the original.

  The image forming unit 25 has a known configuration including a photosensitive drum, a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a discharge unit. The image forming unit 25 executes print processing under the control of the control unit 20. The printing process is a process for forming (printing) on the paper the image data generated by the image reading unit 26 or the image represented by the page data received from the tablet 1 via the network 90.

  The control unit 20 includes a CPU (not illustrated) that executes predetermined arithmetic processing, a nonvolatile memory (not illustrated) such as an EEPROM that stores a predetermined control program, and a RAM (not illustrated) that temporarily stores data. And a microcomputer including these peripheral circuits and the like. The control unit 20 controls the operation of each unit in the multifunction device 2 by executing a control program stored in the nonvolatile memory by the CPU.

  The control unit 20 relates to an operation for executing a print job for printing print data received from the tablet 1, and particularly functions as a job execution unit 21, a determination unit 22, a job registration unit 23, and a list transmission unit 24.

  The job execution unit 21 executes the print job indicated by the identification information registered in the job list JL. Specifically, the job execution unit 21 performs a printing process for forming an image represented by each page data registered in the page data column in association with the identification information registered in the job list JL on the sheet. To run.

  The determination unit 22 determines whether all the page data constituting the print data has been received based on the reception result of the page data including the final page information EP. Details of the determination unit 22 will be described later.

  If the determination unit 22 determines that all the page data has not been received, the job registration unit 23 registers a print job for printing the print data corresponding to the page data as an incomplete job in the job list JL. Details of the job registration unit 23 will be described later.

  When the list transmission unit 24 receives a transmission instruction of the job list JL from the tablet 1, the list transmission unit 24 returns the job list JL to the tablet 1. Details of the list transmission unit 24 will be described later.

  Hereinafter, an operation of transmitting print data PRD from the tablet 1 to the multifunction device 2 and causing the multifunction device 2 to execute a print job for printing the print data PRD will be described. In the description, details of the determination unit 22 and the job registration unit 23 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of transmitting print data to the multifunction device 2 in the tablet 1. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of executing a print job for printing the received print data in the multifunction device 2.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the tablet 1, it is assumed that an instruction to print an image represented by the HTML data HD shown in FIG. 2 being displayed on the browser displayed on the operation display unit 16 is input by the display control unit 11 (S1). .

  In this case, as described above, the data generation unit 12 refers to the condition information C stored in the storage unit 18 and, based on the shaping condition indicated by the condition information C (FIG. 3), the HTML data HD (FIG. 2) is divided into three page data PD1 to PD3 (FIG. 2), and print data PRD (FIG. 2) composed of the three page data PD1 to PD3 is generated (S2).

  As described above, the offset generation unit 13 generates offset information OF1 to OF3 (FIG. 2) corresponding to each of the page data PD1 to PD3 generated in step S2 (S3).

  The transmission unit 14 obtains the acquisition information “http://www.aaa.com/html/a.html” necessary for acquiring the HTML data HD and the condition information C stored in the storage unit 18. The data is transmitted to the multifunction machine 2 (S4). Thereafter, the transmission unit 14 transmits the page data PD1 to PD3 generated in step S2 and the offset information OF1 to OF3 corresponding to the page data PD1 to PD3 generated in step S3 to the multifunction device 2 in page order. (S5).

  On the other hand, in the MFP 2, the communication unit 28 receives the acquired information “http://www.aaa.com/html/a.html” and the condition information C transmitted from the tablet 1, as shown in FIG. If so (S21; YES), the job registration unit 23 determines that an instruction to execute a new print job has been transmitted from the tablet 1.

  In this case, the job registration unit 23, as shown in FIG. 4, the print job identification information J1, the received acquired information “http://www.aaa.com/html/a.html”, the condition information C, Are registered in the job list JL in association with each other (S22).

  Thereafter, when the communication unit 28 receives the page data and offset information (S23; YES), the job registration unit 23 uses the received page data and offset information for the identification information J1 and the condition information registered in step S22. Corresponding to C, it is registered in the job list in the order of reception (S24).

  For example, assume that the communication unit 28 receives the page data PD1 and the offset information OF1 in step S23. In this case, in step S24, the job registration unit 23 associates the received page data PD1 and offset information OF1 with the identification information J1 and the condition information C registered in step S22 as shown in FIG. Register in the job list.

  Thereafter, when the communication unit 28 receives the page data PD2 and the offset information OF2 in step S23, the job registration unit 23 identifies the received page data PD2 and offset information OF2 registered in step S22. In association with the information J1 and the condition information C, the page data PD1 and the offset information OF1 registered in advance are registered in the next line.

  Then, the determination unit 22 determines whether or not the page data received by the communication unit 28 in step S23 includes the final page information EP (FIG. 2) (S25).

  For example, when the communication unit 28 receives the page data PD1 and the offset information OF1 in step S23, and when the page data PD2 and the offset information OF2 are received, in step S25, the determination unit 22 determines that the final page information It is determined that the EP is not included (S25; NO). On the other hand, when the communication unit 28 receives the page data PD3 and the offset information OF3 in step S23, the determination unit 22 determines in step S25 that the final page information EP is included (S25; YES).

  The determination unit 22 determines that the last page information EP is not included in step S25 (S25; NO), and the communication unit 28 does not receive page data and offset information in step S23 (S23). NO), it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the communication unit 28 last received page data and offset information (S28).

  In step S28, it is assumed that the determination unit 22 determines that a predetermined time has elapsed since the communication unit 28 last received page data and offset information (S28; YES). In this case, since the predetermined time has passed without receiving the page data including the final page information EP, the determination unit 22 determines that transmission of the page data is interrupted and all the page data cannot be received.

  In this way, when the determination unit 22 determines that all the page data has not been received (S28; YES), the job execution unit 21 prints the page data that has already been received by the communication unit 28 (S29). .

  Specifically, the page data already received is registered in the job list JL in association with the identification information J1 and the condition information C registered in step S22 in step S24. In step S29, the job execution unit 21 acquires each page data registered in the job list JL in association with the identification information J1 registered in step S22. Then, the job execution unit 21 causes the image forming unit 25 to execute a printing process for forming an image represented by each acquired page data on a sheet.

  If the determination unit 22 determines that all the page data has not been received (S28; YES), the job registration unit 23 performs the printing indicated by the identification information J1 registered in step S22 after executing step S29. The job is registered in the job list JL as an incomplete job (S30).

  Specifically, in step S30, as shown in FIG. 4, the job registration unit 23 associates the identification information J1 registered in step S22 with print data PRD (FIG. 2) to be printed by the print job. Status information “incomplete” indicating that the reception of some of the page data that constitutes the page is not completed is registered in the job list JL.

  If it is determined in step S25 that the last page information EP is included (S25; YES), the job execution unit 21 prints all the page data (S26).

  Specifically, when it is determined in step S25 that the last page information EP is included (S25; YES), the print data PRD that is to be printed by the print job indicated by the identification information J1 registered in step S22 is displayed. All the constituent page data are registered in the job list JL in association with the identification information J1. In step S26, the job execution unit 21 acquires all page data registered in the job list JL in association with the identification information J1 registered in step S22. Then, the job execution unit 21 causes the image forming unit 25 to execute print processing for forming an image represented by all the acquired page data on a sheet.

  After execution of step S26, the job registration unit 23 registers the print job indicated by the identification information J1 registered in step S22 in the job list JL as an end job for which printing has been completed (S27).

  Specifically, in step S27, the job registration unit 23 has finished printing all the page data constituting the print data to be printed by the print job in association with the identification information registered in step S22. Is registered in the job list JL.

  For example, it is assumed that all page data PD21 and PD22 to be printed by the print job indicated by the identification information J2 (FIG. 4) are received. In step S26, all the page data PD21 and PD22 are printed. In this case, in step S27, as shown in FIG. 4, the job registration unit 23 registers the status information “END” in the job list JL in association with the identification information J2.

  Next, an operation for resuming execution of a print job registered as an incomplete job in the job list JL will be described. In the description, details of the list transmission unit 24 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation for resuming execution of a print job registered in the job list JL as an incomplete job.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the tablet 1, the transmission request unit 15 controls the communication unit 17 at a predetermined time, and instructs the transmission of the job list JL stored in the storage unit 29 described later by the multifunction device 2. Is transmitted to the multifunction machine 2 (S31).

  On the other hand, in the MFP 2, when the communication unit 28 receives a job list JL transmission instruction from the tablet 1 (S41; YES), the list transmission unit 24 returns the job list JL to the tablet 1 that has transmitted the transmission instruction. (S42).

  In the tablet 1, it is assumed that the communication unit 17 receives the job list JL after the transmission request unit 15 transmits the transmission instruction of the job list JL (S32; YES). In the following description, it is assumed that the job list JL shown in FIG. 4 has been received in step S32.

  In this case, the data generation unit 12 acquires the acquisition information “http://www.aaa.com/html/a.html corresponding to the identification information J1 of the incomplete job registered in the job list JL received in step S32. Refer to. Then, the data generation unit 12 acquires the same HTML data HD (FIG. 2) as the original data used to generate the print data to be printed by the incomplete job based on the acquisition information (S33).

  The data generation unit 12 is registered in the last line of the offset information column among the offset information OF1 and OF2 corresponding to the identification information J1 of the incomplete job registered in the job list JL received in step S32. The offset information OF2 is referred to as the last received offset information. Further, the data generation unit 12 refers to the condition information C corresponding to the incomplete job identification information J1 registered in the job list JL. Then, the data generation unit 12 uses the same method as that in step S2 for data after the position HP2 separated from the head position HP1 in the data length D2 indicated by the offset information OF2 in the HTML data HD acquired in step S33. Division is performed based on the shaping condition indicated by the condition information C (FIG. 3), and page data PD2 and PD3 are generated (S34).

  That is, in step S34, the data generation unit 12 determines that the HTML tags after the HTML tag <table> included in the data after the position HP2 are based on the same shaping conditions as the shaping conditions shown in FIG. The process of determining whether the drawing element to be shown can be drawn in the virtual display area for one page and the process of generating page data are repeated. As a result, the data generation unit 12 generates the same page data PD2 and PD3 as the page data PD2 and PD3 shown in FIG.

  Next, as in step S3 (FIG. 5), the offset generation unit 13 uses the HTML data HD acquired in step S33 and uses the offset corresponding to each of the page data PD2 and PD3 generated in step S34. Information OF2 and OF3 are generated (S35).

  Then, the transmission unit 14 transmits the identification information J1 of the incomplete job registered in the job list JL received in step S32 to the multi function device 2 (S36). After that, the transmitter 14 performs the page data PD2 and PD3 generated in step S34 and the offset information OF2 and OF3 corresponding to the page data PD2 and PD3 generated in step S34, as in step S5 (FIG. 5). Are transmitted to the MFP 2 in page order (S37).

  On the other hand, in the MFP 2, when the communication unit 28 receives the identification information J1 transmitted from the tablet 1 as shown in FIG. 6 (S21; NO, S51; YES), the job registration unit 23 causes the tablet 1 to It is determined that the execution instruction for the incomplete job indicated by the identification information J1 has been transmitted. In this case, step S22 is not performed, and the processing after step S23 is performed.

  That is, even after the determination unit 22 determines that all the page data has not been received (S28; YES), the page data PD2 (PD3) and the offset information OF2 (OF3) transmitted in step S37. Is received by the communication unit 28 (S23; YES), the received page data PD2 (PD3) and offset information OF2 (OF3) are associated with the incomplete job identification information J1 in the job list JL. (S24). Thereby, in subsequent step S26 or step S29, the job execution unit 21 causes the image forming unit 25 to execute a printing process for forming an image represented by the page data PD2 (PD3) on the sheet.

  As described above, according to the configuration of the above embodiment, it is possible to grasp that a print job registered as an incomplete job in the job list JL is a print job that has not received all page data.

  In addition, the tablet 1 can acquire the job list JL from the multifunction device 2 by transmitting a job list JL transmission instruction. The offset information received last is registered in the job list JL. For this reason, the data generation unit 12 refers to the uncompleted job registered in the job list JL and the offset information received last corresponding to the uncompleted job, and generates print data to be printed by the uncompleted job. The used original data can be divided from a position away from the head position by the data length indicated by the offset information.

  As a result, only the page data after the page data last received by the multi-function device 2 is efficiently generated without taking the trouble of generating all the page data constituting the print data by dividing the original data from the head position. be able to. As a result, only the page data after the page data last received by the multifunction device 2 can be transmitted, and the interrupted print job can be restarted quickly.

  Each tablet 1a, 1b can acquire the same job list JL stored in the multifunction device 2 by transmitting a transmission instruction for the job list JL. Then, the data generation unit 12 of each tablet 1 refers to the incomplete job registered in the acquired job list JL and the acquired information corresponding thereto, and generates the print data to be printed by the incomplete job. The same data as the original data used can be acquired. As a result, even if the incomplete job prints print data transmitted from another tablet 1, the same data as the original data used to generate the print data can be acquired.

  Further, the data generation unit 12 of each tablet 1a, 1b can refer to offset information and condition information corresponding to an incomplete job registered in the acquired job list JL. As a result, even if the incomplete job is to print the print data transmitted from the other tablet 1, the same data as the original data is based on the same shaping condition used for generating the print data. The data after the position that is separated from the head position by the data length indicated by the offset information is divided, and the page data after the page data received last by the MFP 2 can be efficiently generated.

  Even if all the page data constituting the print data cannot be received, the already received page data can be printed. Thereby, when page data that could not be received thereafter is received, only the page data that could not be received is printed, so that all the page data can be printed efficiently.

  In addition, when the page data including the last page information is not received during the predetermined time after the last page data is received, the already received page data is printed. As a result, a part of the print job for printing the print data including the already received page data is executed. If more page data is received after a part of the print job is executed, the received page data is printed. As described above, according to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, a print job that cannot receive all page data can be managed as a resumable print job without being discarded as a job in which an error has occurred.

  In addition, the said embodiment is only the illustration of embodiment which concerns on this invention, and is not the meaning which limits this invention to the said embodiment. For example, the following modified embodiment may be used.

  (1) In step S36, the transmission unit 14 associates the uncompleted job identification information J1 with the uncompleted job identification information J1 registered in the job list JL, instead of transmitting the uncompleted job identification information J1 to the multifunction peripheral 2. The acquired information and the condition information may be transmitted. Thereby, the identification information of the uncompleted job may not be received in step S51, and the acquired acquisition information and condition information may be received in step S21.

  That is, the job execution unit 21 executes the received page data after the determination unit 22 determines that all the page data has not been received as a new print job, not as a print job in which an incomplete job is resumed. You may make it do.

  (2) Step S29 (FIG. 6) may be omitted. As a result, when the job execution unit 21 determines that all the page data has not been received by the determination unit 22, it may not print the already received page data.

  (3) In step S4 (FIG. 5), the transmission unit 14 may transmit identification information of a print job for printing the print data PRD generated in step S2 instead of the acquired information and the condition information. Thereby, in step S51, the identification information of the print job transmitted in step S4 may be received. Further, in step S4, the transmission unit 14 includes identification information of the print job, HTML data HD that is original data used to generate the print data PRD, and condition information C used to generate the print data PRD. You may make it memorize | store in the memory | storage part 18 in association.

  In accordance with this, the acquisition list and the condition information field may not be provided in the job list JL, and step S22 may be omitted. In step S24 performed when the communication unit 28 first receives page data and offset information in step S23, the print job identification information received in step S51, the page data and offset received first. Information may be associated with and registered in the job list JL.

  When the same identification information as the identification information J1 of the incomplete job registered in the job list JL is stored in the storage unit 18, the data generation unit 12 replaces the identification information J1 with the identification information J1 instead of step S33. The HTML data HD stored in the storage unit 18 in association with each other may be acquired. Similarly, in step S34, the condition information C stored in the storage unit 18 in association with the identification information J1 may be referred to.

  That is, it is assumed that the print job for printing the print data transmitted by the tablet 1a is registered in the job list JL as an incomplete job. In this case, the tablet 1b cannot generate page data to be printed by the uncompleted job, but is registered in the HTML data HD, the condition information C, and the job list JL stored in the storage unit 18 only in the tablet 1a. The offset data may be used to generate page data to be printed by the incomplete job.

  (4) In step S24 (FIG. 6), the job registration unit 23 registers the offset information received in step S23 in association with the identification information J1 and the condition information C registered in step S22 in the job list JL. In addition, the offset information already registered in association with the identification information J1 and the condition information C may be deleted. Thereby, the job registration unit 23 may register only the offset information received last in the job list JL.

1, 1a, 1b Tablet (portable device)
2 MFP (image forming device)
9 Job management system 10 Control unit (computer)
12 data generation unit 13 offset generation unit 14 transmission unit 15 transmission request unit 21 job execution unit 22 determination unit 23 job registration unit 24 list transmission unit C condition information D2, D3 data length EP final page information HD HTML data (original data)
HP1 Start position J1 Identification information JL Job list OF1 to OF3 Offset information PD1 to PD3 Page data PRD Print data

Claims (8)

A job management system for communicating between an image forming apparatus and a portable device,
The portable device is:
A data generation unit that divides the original data into one or more page data and generates print data composed of the one or more page data;
An offset generation unit that generates, for each page data, offset information indicating the position on the original data corresponding to the start position of each page data by the data length when the start position of the original data is used as a reference;
A transmission unit that transmits the page data and the offset information corresponding to the page data in page order;
The page data of the last page constituting the print data includes last page information indicating that it is the last page,
The image forming apparatus includes:
A determination unit that determines whether or not all the page data constituting the print data has been received based on a reception result of the page data including the last page information;
A job registration unit that registers a print job for printing the print data as an incomplete job in a job list when the determination unit determines that all the page data has not been received;
The job registration unit, wherein the job registration unit registers the incomplete job identification information in association with at least the last received offset information in the job list. The portable device is:
A transmission request unit for transmitting the job list transmission instruction;
The image forming apparatus includes:
The job management system according to claim 1, further comprising: a list transmission unit that returns the job list to the portable device when the transmission instruction is received from the portable device.   When the data generation unit receives the job list, the data generation unit refers to the last received offset information corresponding to the identification information of the incomplete job registered in the job list, and the incomplete job is printed. 3. The job management system according to claim 2, wherein, of the original data used for generating the target print data, data after a position that is a data length away from the head position indicated by the offset information is divided. The job management system includes one or more portable devices,
The data generation unit divides the original data based on a predetermined shaping condition,
The transmission unit further transmits acquisition information necessary to acquire the original data and condition information indicating the shaping condition,
The job registration unit registers the received acquisition information and the condition information in the job list in further association with the incomplete job identification information and the offset information,
When the data generation unit receives the job list, the data generation unit receives the last received offset information, the acquisition information, and the condition information corresponding to the identification information of the incomplete job registered in the job list. Refer to and acquire the same data as the original data based on the acquisition information, and among the acquired data, the shaping condition indicated by the condition information indicates the data after the position separated by the data length indicated by the offset information from the head position The job management system according to claim 2, wherein the job management system divides based on the job. The image forming apparatus includes:
A job execution unit for executing the print job;
5. The job management system according to claim 1, wherein the job execution unit prints the already received page data when the determination unit determines that all the page data has not been received. 6. . When the determination unit has not received the page data including the last page information between the last reception of the page data and the elapse of a predetermined time, all the page data has not been received. Judgment,
The job management system according to claim 5, wherein the job execution unit prints the received page data when receiving the page data after the determination unit determines that all the page data has not been received. . An image forming apparatus that communicates with a portable device,
The portable device divides the original data into one or more page data, generates print data composed of the one or more page data, and sets the position on the original data corresponding to the head position of each page data. Generates offset information indicated by the data length with respect to the head position of the original data for each page data, transmits the page data and the offset information corresponding to the page data in page order,
When the page data of the last page constituting the print data includes last page information indicating that it is the last page,
A determination unit that determines whether or not all the page data constituting the print data has been received based on a reception result of the page data including the last page information;
A job registration unit that registers a print job for printing the print data as an incomplete job in a job list when the determination unit determines that all the page data has not been received;
The job registration unit is an image forming apparatus that registers identification information of the uncompleted job and at least the offset information received last in the job list in association with each other. A control program for functioning a computer of a portable device that communicates with an image forming apparatus,
A computer of the portable device;
A data generation unit that divides the original data into one or more page data and generates print data composed of the one or more page data;
An offset generation unit that generates, for each page data, offset information indicating the position on the original data corresponding to the start position of each page data by the data length when the start position of the original data is used as a reference;
The page data and the offset information corresponding to the page data function as a transmission unit that transmits the page order,
The page data of the last page constituting the print data includes last page information indicating that it is the last page.

Images